Treasures Of The Snow
1. The Lord Gives Us Treasures Of The Snow
2. What Are some Treasures Of The Snow?
3. God Sends Snow And Rain For Correction
4. God Gives Us Rain And Snow For His Land
5. God Gives Snow And Rain In His Great Mercy
6. God Sends Snow, Rain, And Hail In Battle
7. Three Things In Every Storm
8. “She Is Not Afraid Of The Snow…”
9. As White As Snow
10. The Wise Men Gave Jesus Their Treasures
11. The Treasure Of Sweet Memories
12. Good Christian Songs And Hymns Are A Treasure
13. The Israelites Gave Their Treasures For God’s Work
14. Lay Up Treasure In Heaven
15. What Treasure Is More Valuable Than Gold, Silver, And Rubies?
1. The Lord Gives Us Treasures Of The Snow
When Job suffered through his trials he wanted to talk with God. In chapter 38, the Lord answered Job.
“1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:1)
I want to look at verse 22. “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,” God, The Almighty Creator, is in control over all heaven and earth. Since we just had an inch or two of snow, let’s look at “Treasures Of The Snow.”
2. What Are Some Treasures Of The Snow?
We live in central North Carolina and we don’t get much snow. When we do, most of the children think it’s a treasure. They get out of school. My grandchildren all went sledding. When I was asked if I wanted to go sledding, I didn’t have to think about it… “Um, no thank you.” I used to enjoy spending time with our children in the snow, but it feels much colder to these old bones than it used to. And I didn’t make a snowman, but I did make us some snow cream. Another way that snow might be viewed as a treasure is how beautiful it looks. Even the worst looking area looks beautiful covered with a blanket of snow. Let’s look at the question again, “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,” (Job 38:22)
3. God Sends Snow And Rain For Correction
We are in the book of Job again today, still talking about snow. Notice how these verses begin, “For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth…” God makes the snow and rain fall on the earth. He even gives us His reasons in verse 13.
“6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.” (Job 37:6-13)
God sends rain and snow for correction. We see this when the Children Of Israel asked for a king. “Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.” (I Samuel 12:17-18 ) Also, in the book of Ezra when the people had gone against the Word of God, there was a great rain. “Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.” (Ezra 10:9) And we can’t forget that God sent the great flood which covered the earth because of the sin of the people.
“5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 5:5-7)
4. God Gives Rain And Snow For His Land
The next reason that God sends rain and snow, is for His land. “He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.” (Job 37:13) “Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:” (Deuteronomy 5:10) God gives rain for the land, even where there are no people. “To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?” (Job 38:26-27) He gives rain to feed the animals. “Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.” (Psalm 147:8-9) “And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.” (Deuteronomy 28:11-12) God gives us rain and snow for His land.
5. God Gives Snow And Rain In His Great Mercy
I am so thankful for the mercy of God. I was walking down the brick steps yesterday and my foot slid off of the bottom step. I landed hard on the tile floor. I am thankful that God kept me from getting hurt. There is some soreness in my wrist from how I landed, but it’s not broken. I may have turned the top of my foot, but I can easily walk. I will have some bruises, but I am thankful that the Lord was with me. We experience the mercy of God over and over, from His wonderful saving mercy, to His watchful care over us every day.
Think of how hard it would be if God withheld rain from the land. God gives us rain and snow in His goodness and great mercy, to “give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.” (Isaiah 55:10) “He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.” (Job 37:13) “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
“6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:6-11)
6. God Sends Snow, Rain, And Hail In Battle
Let’s continue with Job 38:22-24 and see how God used snow, rain, and hail in battles.
“22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?”
“12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15 Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.” (Psalm 18:12-15)
“11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10:11-14)
“30 And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.” (Isaiah 30:30)
Jesus warned of things that would come in Luke 21:10-11. “Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”
“17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.” (Revelation 16:17-21)
7. Three Things In Every Storm
After the snow and ice from last weekend, it was good to worship together at church Wednesday night. Pastor Rick Byerly preached a great sermon on Noah. He reminded us that everyone goes through storms, and God used storms to fulfill His will. He began with a couple important verses to remember. “And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.” (Genesis 5:7) We can do all that God commands and still go through storms. “And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;” (Genesis 8:1) God remembered Noah. God doesn’t forget us in the storms. Storms are dark, they’re long, they are fierce, and they can change everything in our lives. After the storm, everything that Noah had known was gone.
Here are the three sides to every storm.
The Omnipotent Side – God is all powerful. He is still in control. God had a plan to destroy the earth, and He had a plan to save Noah and his family, and animal life on earth. “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” (Genesis 7:1) God used a storm to fulfill His plan.
The Occupant Side – That’s us. We are the ones going through the storms. We are looking at the storm from our side, the pain, the fear, and the uncertainty. Noah prepared by obeying God’s Word. We can prepare for the storms by obeying God’s Word. Noah built the ark, according to God’s Word, and that’s what kept him safe. Keep doing what God says and that will keep us safe.
The Other Side – God is watching from the other side. The last storm we face will be death, unless we go home in the rapture. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me… Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23:4 & 6) We need to keep our eyes on the Lord when we are going through the storms. When Peter took his eyes off the Lord, and looked at the storm, he began to sink. “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” (Matthew 14:30) Always remember that God is with us in the storms.
8. “She Is Not Afraid Of The Snow…”
Some of the weather reports are forecasting more snow next week. I’ve seen reports that we may get anywhere between 2 inches and 10 inches of snow, or ice. Even if we don’t get that much precipitation, the temperatures are predicted to dip down in the teens for a few days. Since it was a little warmer Friday than it has been, I put some more firewood under shelter. I want to be prepared for a storm. Most stores will probably sell out of milk and bread. We like to be prepared in times like this. Proverbs 31:21 tells us, “She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.” Like anyone, we want to be ready for a storm. It would be wonderful if people would prepare their household to be ready to meet the Lord. We look at the present, and near future to be prepared, but are we focused on eternity? We want to give our children the best education, and sign them up for all kinds of extracurricular activities, but are we teaching them to spend time in prayer and in God’s Word? We are taking them from one place to another to keep up with the busy schedules, but are we taking them to church? The most important thing we can do to prepare our children is to teach them that Jesus is God’s Son, and He died to save them. It is good to be prepared for storms, but it is of the greatest necessity to be prepared for eternity.
9. As White As Snow
Do you ever do something wrong and you feel dirty inside? The Holy Spirit convicts our heart when we sin. God can take that dirty sin in our heart and wash it white as snow. Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, was perfect and without sin, but He died on the cross to pay for our sin. We have this promise in Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” After King David committed his great sin he prayed, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7) In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul explains how to be saved.
Accept that you are a sinner -- "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23) -- with no other way of salvation but by Jesus. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ -- "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Confess your sin to Jesus and trust in Him --
"9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
Jesus will wash you as white as snow.
10. The Wise Men Gave Jesus Their Treasures
We began with, “Treasures Of The Snow” and looked several days at “snow” in the Bible. Now, let’s search for treasures in the Bible. Christmas was less than a month ago, so we will begin with Matthew 2:11. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” The Wise Men followed the star to offer their treasures to the Christ child. Their treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, were of great value. We may not have gifts of such great price to give to the Lord, but, we can give Him our love and service. We can give Him our obedience and honor. We offer up praise and worship to our God. Instead of offering sacrifices as they did in the Old Testament, we are told to give Him our love!
“28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.” (Mark 12:28-34)
11. The Treasure Of Sweet Memories
My three sisters and I used to sing together when we were young. It wasn’t like it is today, with pictures and videos recorded on cell phones. We sometimes recorded songs off the radio with cassette tapes, but stopping and starting, and going forward and backward, would wear them out, and sometimes break the tapes. Last week, I was wishing I had a tape recording from 50 years ago, so I could hear our songs. I didn’t know that Betty Key, my mother-in-law, was cleaning out some of her old cassette tapes. She gave us a box of some old church services that she had recorded many years ago. And she gave me a tape and told me that it had me and my sisters singing. I thought maybe it was a recording of us singing during a church service. I put it in the player and played the tape where she had it stopped. Hearing the song brought back so many sweet memories. Then, there was another song, and another, and another. There may be eight songs of precious, treasured memories of us singing, on the tape. Fifty years ago we didn’t go to the same church as she did. I barely even knew Michael when we began singing. I asked her where she got the tape and she said that she didn’t know. Michael is going to try to copy the songs so that I can share them with my Mom and my sisters. Treasures don’t have to be silver and gold, or precious stones. Sweet memories can be great treasures. There have been so many times in my life when I thought about something that I would like to have, and the Lord gave it to me. Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” This was something that I had not told anyone about, yet the Lord knew it was something that I desired, and He gave it to me. God is so good!
12. Good Christian Songs And Hymns Are A Treasure
I shared one of the songs that I sang with my sisters, online Monday. “Learning To Lean” was written by John Stallings. (I found that it was written in 1976, so it wasn’t quite 50 years ago.) I have sung that song many times in the last 49 years, and I want to say that I am still learning to lean on Jesus. I still have storms that I go through, and I lean on Jesus. I still face troubles deep down inside and feel like there’s no one else that can help me, and I lean on Jesus. I make mistakes, and I fall, and I try to lean on Jesus. I’m thankful that we have a Savior that we can go to, and lean on, in this troubled world. I am also thankful that we have songs that we can sing in praise to our God. Singers were very important in the worship in the Old Testament. For some of the Levites, that was their job, day and night. “And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.” (I Chronicles 9:33) “It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.” (II Chronicles 5:13-14) The book of Revelation tells us that there will be singing in heaven. Singing songs of praise is a wonderful treasure.
“Learning To Lean”
“The joy I can’t explain fills my soul
Since the day I made Jesus my king.
His Blessed Holy Spirit is leading my way,
He's teaching and I'm learning to lean.
Learning to lean,
Learning to lean,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus.
Finding more power than I've ever dreamed,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus.”
13. The Israelites Gave Their Treasures For God’s Work
I have been reading in the book of Exodus, which is the great story of how God brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt. After the plagues, the Egyptians gave them treasures of the land, like spoils of victory. When God gave Moses instructions in raising up a tabernacle in the wilderness, the people gave willingly of their treasures, to complete the tabernacle and everything that was needed for their service.
“5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,
6 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,
7 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,
8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
9 And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
10 And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;
11 The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,
12 The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,
13 The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,
14 The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light.” (Exodus 35:5-14)
The list continues and in the next chapter we read, “And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.” (Exodus 36:5) The men and women were happy to give their treasures, and their time and talents to work for the Lord. Since I have been thinking about treasures, I noticed Exodus 38:8, “And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” The women gave up their brass mirrors. First of all, I don’t usually think about how all those women in the wilderness would need mirrors. But, I guess, even in the wilderness, they wanted to look their best. I see this as giving up some of their pride in how they looked when they gathered at the tabernacle. It may not be hard for some of us to give our tithes, our talents, and our time to the Lord. In reading these verses I noticed that we also need to give up our pride. It’s good to look our best when we go to worship the Lord, but we must put our Lord first, above our looks, or how we are dressed.
14. Lay Up Treasures In Heaven
In the sixth chapter of Matthew, in His Sermon on the Mount, we see what Jesus says about treasures. First, He tells us not to build up our treasures on earth, but to lay up treasures in heaven. Jesus sums it up in saying, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Then, He tells us not to worry about food and clothing, because our heavenly Father provides our needs. And we have another great verse, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Are we laying up treasure in heaven?
“19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:19-21 & 25-33)
15. What Treasure Is More Valuable Than Gold, Silver, And Rubies?
To close our look at “Treasures Of The Snow”, I want to look at something that is more valuable than gold, and silver, and rubies. These are the words of King Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible.
“Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” (Proverbs 8:10-11)
“13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” (Proverbs 3:13-18)
Job asked, “Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:20) And then he answered, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28) Again in Psalms 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” We can increase our wisdom through prayer. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5) And through the Word of God. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16) You can get this great treasure. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)
